No Choice

No woman (or man) has a choice about when and where to be born. In early childhood, however, most American girls make many choices that help to shape their lives. American women (and men), therefore, may read with compassionate wonder about Fadwa Kassis Naser, who had 1) No choice concerning childhood responsibilities for a younger sister due to her mothers fragile health. 2) No choice regarding when (age 15) or whom (a man more than twice her age) she would marry. 3) No choice as to when to bear children. 4) No choice about living quarters for a growing family. 5) No choice regarding others with whom those quarters must be shared. 6) No choice in such mundane activities as shopping or such rarer events as vacations. 7) No choice regarding which church to attend. 8) No choice of obtaining parenting advice from her mother, whose illness required long separations and ended in a premature death. 9) No choice concerning entertaining guests nor packing for moves to new locations. 10) No choice over her sons rejection for an educational opportunity to which he was entitled. 11) No choice when dismissed from a job that she was handling well. 12) No choice to return from Kuwait to her Palestinian homeland due to political conflict. Intermingled with these situations, she had sole responsibility for choices about 1) Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior at age 10. 2) Relying upon her heavenly Father for strength and wisdom in almost every circumstance of life. 3) Guiding her childrens education, including getting them to and from school and financially covering their tuition costs in private schools. 4) Expanding her own formal schooling and practical nursing skills, surmount- ing financial and transportation difficulties. Although you may ache for Fadwa as you read this account of her life, you will also rejoice at examples of Gods showing Himself strong on the behalf of one whose heart is devoted to Him. She recognized His provision of empty boxes for a grape harvest when she was age 14, and His supplying funds for a sons education through the selfless sharing of a daughter, and His enabling Fadwa to visit relatives in Germany in spite of her having no visa, and . . ..